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Teacher Profile

René Schiltz

email: rene.schiltz@prepclasses.org
René Schiltz has been teaching liberal arts courses since 1999 and joined PREP Classes as a teacher in 2023.
 
With a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Fine Arts in theater focusing on acting and directing, René produced and directed various theater productions for Northern Oklahoma College and Community Theaters in Oklahoma and Missouri.  She also taught many of NOC's theatre, music, and communication courses.  When she and her husband made the decision to move to Houston and homeschool their three children in 2005, René began a new journey in education focusing on an in-depth study of classical education and pedagogy.  Homeschooling, teaching in coops, and helping out in homeschool organizations became a joy and she has never looked back!
 
In 2012, the Schiltz family became involved in Speech and Debate and the NCFCA (National Christian Forensics and Communication Association).  René hosted and taught speech camps and began teaching and coaching students to compete in speech events such as Informative and Persuasive speaking, Duo and Open Interpretation, Impromptu Speaking and Apologetics.  With her passion and encouragement to help students set a standard for excellence, many students she coached have advanced to compete at the NCFCA National Championship.  Several have placed in finals including her eldest daughter Makenna in the categories of Biblical Presentation and Illustrated Oratory, and her son Brennan who placed 5th in Team Policy Debate.  Makenna is now at Anderson University, graduating in May of 2023 and Brennan is currently attending Dallas Baptist University and is on the debate team there.  Her youngest, Maggie, is still actively practicing speech and debate as a high school junior.  René is highly involved in speech and debate and currently helps to lead a local club.  
 
René is an advocate for students to use their voice and talent to become a witness for the truth as they write and speak on various topics.  As God calls each of us to be a defender of our faith, René teaches speech communication as a skill that stems from our knowledge of God’s word, our willingness to learn and understand important topics, and to communicate ideas with integrity and grace.  Overcoming the fear of public speaking can also open doors for great conversations and provide opportunities for leadership.  It is her prayer that she will be able to share her love for public speaking with students who will become ambassadors of truth and messengers of hope.

Teacher's Classes

This course is designed for high school students in 9th-12th grades. 

The practice of speechmaking is a unique skill in the world today. Wrestling with thoughts and ideas coupled with research and fact checking in the writing process is vital. To prepare one’s thoughts and to present them eloquently using clarity, concision, and appropriate language is an essential skill that 

is at risk of being lost in a society of social media tweets and posts. Understanding that the human struggle with ideas is far more valuable than AI generated ones is a huge step toward humility and grace toward oneself and others. 

Assignments will be based on various kinds of speechmaking selected from… ? Informative 

  • Persuasive
  • Impromptu
  • Demonstration
  • Team Project on Marketing and Consumer Advertising
  • Digital Presentation using Google Slides

Styles of speeches will include: 

  • Limited preparation speeches - draw a topic, brainstorm, speak (includes apologetics) ? Prepared speeches - pre-written speeches 6-7 minutes in length
  • Team Projects

This class is designed to teach and hone a variety of important skills needed for life including: 

? Research skills - A speech topic is assigned and the students will research and write an essay resulting in a 6-7 minute speech. How to research using the internet will be taught. Students will have 4-5 weeks to complete this type of assignment. 

? Writing skills - Essay versions will go through 2-3 drafts from concept to delivery. Teacher feedback is given in both grammar and usage as well as on the differences between writing an essay (which the audience would read) as opposed to writing a speech (which the audience will listen to). 

? Delivery skills - speaking - Understanding the elements of speechmaking include using the voice effectively through intonation, elocution, pitch, speed, and tempo changes is key. 

? Delivery skills - physical - Utilizing gesture and movement is important to keeping the audience engaged.

? Humor - Understanding the appropriateness and application of humor can put the audience at ease and create connection, or it can alienate the audience if used improperly. Students will practice utilizing humor in a way that is honorable and fun. 

? Critical thinking skills - Class discussion, critical thinking, clarity of thought and concision in the use of language are key to excellent writing and communication. 

The Lecture introduces the assignment and prepares students for each speech project. Class discussion is encouraged and students will practice delivery skills in class prior to the graded presentation. 

  • Homework: 30 min per day. If students work 30 minutes per day/4 days per week, completing assignments should be easily achievable.
  • Parents partner with Mrs. Schiltz for their student's success by overseeing their student's research online, checking for use of AI which is prohibited, completion of assignments, and preparations for speaking in class. While high school students should learn to manage these things themselves over time, a parent's checking in occasionally keeps them accountable and less susceptible to temptations that may come along.
  • Online research can be dangerous without parental controls or a filter on the computer. I highly recommend parents to be involved in computer settings for online research.

Presentation Days: In order to prevent delays in teaching new material and to stay on schedule, it is highly recommended that students look ahead to know when or if conflicts in his or her schedule require swapping his or her assigned presentation day with someone else in the class. Last minute requests to swap are more difficult to accommodate and cannot be guaranteed. Always advise Mrs. Schiltz of a swap. 

Supply fee: $50 Tuition: $600/year or 10 monthly payments of $60. Textbooks: TBA Class time: 1.5 hours, once weekly 

PLEASE NOTE: 

*Withdrawal fee after 9/30 of the school year is 3 months of tuition paid at time of withdrawal. This is non-negotiable as a standard Prep rule. 

*Drop Fee after December 15 will be the remaining year’s tuition to be paid at time of withdrawal. This is non-negotiable as a standard Prep rule.. 

*The Supply Fee and Mrs. Schiltz’s class forms are due upon registration and will confirm the student’s seat in the class. 

*If the Supply fee and forms are not received within 2 weeks of registration, the student may be unenrolled from the class to make room for another student. 

*The Supply Fee is non-refundable after July 1st. 

*Dropping a class mid-year is highly discouraged. Fee penalties are enforced. Drops affect class dynamics and student relationships. Please enroll understanding this is a year-long commitment. If ever there are issues which are of concern please contact the teacher as I will do my best to help students through any rough times during the year. 

*AI use will not be tolerated for any reason in the completion of homework, writing, or assignments. This class is designed to teach the process of thinking, writing, and speaking. All assignments will be checked for AI use and any assignment found to contain AI generated use will receive a score of “0” (zero).


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